Sarasota shopping center's marketing effort turns to murals

Published: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 6:20 p.m.

Sarasota is a community with arts and culture at its core -- and that idea extends even to its shopping centers.

So when Bee Ridge Plaza owner Lindy Heim was trying to come up with a way to help support the tenants in her aging shopping center, she turned to art. Heim commissioned local artist Lisa Sparling to design and paint two wildly colorful murals on the walls of her plaza, at 4100 Bee Ridge Road, that would draw the attention of passersby.

One mural, called Sunburst, is a bright and funky framed sun with rays that stretch out to the very edge of the concrete wall. The other is sunny scene set across a field of tall grass, but with a three-dimensional twist -- three painted bicycles are mounted on the wall in front of the mural.

"Bee Ridge Plaza is an older building and not easily seen from the street," Heim said of the plaza, which is smack between Tamiami Trail and Interstate 75. "Since Sarasota is known as an arts center, it only made sense to find an artist that could help me support the local businesses in my center."

Heim says many of her tenants, such as Sarasota Bicycle Center, Cracker Jack's Pub, Chase's Pool Service & Supplies, Bee Ridge Pharmacy, Bee Ridge Barber and Bee Ridge Books, are locally owned and have been in the plaza for many years.

"Folks driving on Bee Ridge will surely remember the mural and how to find the center shops," said Sarasota Bicycle Center owner Mike Kemp.

Florist adds showroom

Bee Ridge Florist, a locally owned and operated floral company, is expanding with a new showroom that will incorporate elements of its All Event Rental & Design business. The public is invited to attend a grand opening event on May 18, with food, drinks and giveaways.

Cosimo's reopens on Clark

Cosimo's Italian Restaurant, formerly known as Cosimo's Brick Oven, has reopened at Honore Avenue and Clark Road. The move comes eight months after the restaurant closed its longtime Southgate Mall location. Cosimo's owners declined to comment on the restaurant's mall exit. The new location, at 5501 Palmer Crossing Circle, debuted early this month.

Justine Griffin, the Herald-Tribune's retail and tourism reporter, can be reached at 361-4951 or at justine.griffin@ heraldtribune.com. Follow her on Twitter @SunBizGriffin and her daily blog whatsinstore.heraldtribune.com.

<p>Sarasota is a community with arts and culture at its core -- and that idea extends even to its shopping centers.</p><p>So when Bee Ridge Plaza owner Lindy Heim was trying to come up with a way to help support the tenants in her aging shopping center, she turned to art. Heim commissioned local artist Lisa Sparling to design and paint two wildly colorful murals on the walls of her plaza, at 4100 Bee Ridge Road, that would draw the attention of passersby.</p><p>One mural, called Sunburst, is a bright and funky framed sun with rays that stretch out to the very edge of the concrete wall. The other is sunny scene set across a field of tall grass, but with a three-dimensional twist -- three painted bicycles are mounted on the wall in front of the mural.</p><p>"Bee Ridge Plaza is an older building and not easily seen from the street," Heim said of the plaza, which is smack between Tamiami Trail and Interstate 75. "Since Sarasota is known as an arts center, it only made sense to find an artist that could help me support the local businesses in my center."</p><p>Heim says many of her tenants, such as Sarasota Bicycle Center, Cracker Jack's Pub, Chase's Pool Service & Supplies, Bee Ridge Pharmacy, Bee Ridge Barber and Bee Ridge Books, are locally owned and have been in the plaza for many years.</p><p>"Folks driving on Bee Ridge will surely remember the mural and how to find the center shops," said Sarasota Bicycle Center owner Mike Kemp.</p><p><b>Florist adds showroom</p><p></b></p><p>Bee Ridge Florist, a locally owned and operated floral company, is expanding with a new showroom that will incorporate elements of its All Event Rental & Design business. The public is invited to attend a grand opening event on May 18, with food, drinks and giveaways.</p><p><b>Cosimo's reopens on Clark</p><p></b></p><p>Cosimo's Italian Restaurant, formerly known as Cosimo's Brick Oven, has reopened at Honore Avenue and Clark Road. The move comes eight months after the restaurant closed its longtime Southgate Mall location. Cosimo's owners declined to comment on the restaurant's mall exit. The new location, at 5501 Palmer Crossing Circle, debuted early this month.</p><p><I>Justine Griffin, the Herald-Tribune's retail and tourism reporter, can be reached at 361-4951 or at justine.griffin@ heraldtribune.com. Follow her on Twitter @SunBizGriffin and her daily blog whatsinstore.heraldtribune.com.</I></p>